Eden Valley 14.0% Screwcap $45
The new release Flaxman Shiraz/Shiraz based wines have a strong oak influence. The fruit is powerful enough to deal with it, so it’s not so much a fault as one wine maker’s idea of how best to interpret his terroirs. If I was making the wine, I’d be inclined to back off on the wood a little. Then again, I guess if I was the wine maker, there would be every chance the wines would be awful, regardless of their oak regime.
Dry grown estate fruit from 55 to 80 year old vines yielding 750KG to the acre, Open top fermentation, pigeage, minimal pumping and extended time on lees. No filtering or fining.. Matured in 30% New French oak for 24 months.
The resultant wine is certainly curvaceous. Very ripe, sweet black and purple berries, milk chocolate, pepper, fine knit tannin and decent shape. A nicely protracted and full finish too. That French oak is of high quality and over time it should merge with the fruit to provide a seamless set of flavours…but those flavours will still have a strong oak imprint.
I’m a big fan of the softness that the lees adds to the mouth feel and this is a wine that doesn’t lack in textural impact. Those layered tannins will hold the wine in good stead as it continues to evolve. It’s built for the cellar, so give it a long decant if you plan to get stuck into it now. A slab of protein wouldn’t go astray either. One for lovers of big, rich flavours…and oak.
Winery website- flaxmanwines.com.au/